When To Plant Turnips In Virginia

If you’re planning your Virginia garden, knowing when to plant turnips is the key to a great harvest. Getting the timing right means you’ll enjoy sweet, tender roots and flavorful greens. This guide will walk you through the best planting windows for our state’s varied climate and how to plan for continuous harvests from spring straight through fall.

Virginia’s planting seasons are split by the heat of summer. Turnips are a cool-season crop, so they thrive in the milder temperatures of spring and fall. The ideal soil temperature for germination is between 50°F and 85°F.

Spring Planting in Virginia

For a spring harvest, you need to get your seeds in the ground early. Aim to plant as soon as the soil can be worked. This is typically 2 to 4 weeks before your last expected spring frost date.

Coastal Plains & Piedmont: Plant from late February through mid-March.
Mountain & Valley Regions: Plant from mid-March to early April, as frost lingers longer.
Spring-planted turnips grow quickly as days lengthen. Harvest them before summer heat arrives, which can make the roots woody and bitter.

Fall Planting in Virginia

Fall is often the best and easiest time for growing turnips in Virginia. The cooling temperatures improve flavor, making roots sweeter. You’ll count backwards from your first fall frost date.

Coastal Plains & Piedmont: Plant from late August through late September.
Mountain & Valley Regions: Plant from early August to early September.
Fall turnips can often be left in the ground and harvested as needed, as they are more tolerant of cold. A light frost actually improves there flavor.

Succession Planting for Continuous Harvest

Don’t plant all your seeds at once. To avoid a glut and ensure a steady supply, use succession planting.

Make your first planting in early spring.
Sow a new, small row every 10 to 14 days until late spring.
Start again in late summer for fall, making 2-3 plantings about two weeks apart.

Choosing the Right Turnip Variety

Picking a variety suited to the season and your goal—roots or greens—is important. Some are bred specifically for there fast growth or sweet flavor.

Fast-Growing for Spring:

‘Tokyo Cross’: Quick to mature (35 days), handles variable spring weather well.
‘Hakurei’: A sweet, salad-type turnip ready in 38 days. Best eaten fresh.

Classic for Fall Storage:

‘Purple Top White Globe’: Reliable heirloom, excellent for storage. Roots are ready in 55 days.
‘Gold Ball’: Sweet, yellow flesh that stores wonderfully.

Specialty Greens:

‘Seven Top’: Grown primarily for its lush, flavorful greens, not its root.

Step-by-Step Planting Guide

Follow these steps to give your turnip seeds the best start.

Prepare the Soil: Choose a sunny spot. Turnips prefer loose, well-draining soil. Work in 2-3 inches of compost to improve texture and fertility. Remove any large stones that could obstruct root growth.
Sow the Seeds: Plant seeds ½ inch deep. Space them about 1 inch apart in rows that are 12 to 18 inches apart. You can also broadcast seeds in a wide row for a bed of greens.
Thin Seedlings: Once seedlings are 4 inches tall, thin them to 3-6 inches apart. This gives the roots room to size up. Don’t throw away the thinnings—they make a tasty addition to salads!
Water and Feed: Keep the soil consistently moist for even growth. A balanced, all-purpose organic fertilizer applied at planting is usually sufficient in decent soil.

Caring for Your Turnip Crop

Ongoing care is simple but crucial for healthy plants.

Watering: Provide 1 inch of water per week. Inconsistent watering leads to cracked roots and tough texture.
Weeding: Keep the area weed-free, especially when plants are young. Weeds compete for nutrients and water.
Pest Watch: Watch for flea beetles (tiny holes in leaves) and cabbage root maggots. Row covers are an effective physical barrier. For greens, check for caterpillars.

Harvesting at the Perfect Time

Harvest timing depends on whether you want the roots, the greens, or both.

For Roots: Harvest when roots are 2 to 3 inches in diameter for the best flavor and tenderness. You can gently push back the soil at the shoulder to check size.
For Greens: You can begin harvesting young, tender leaves when they are 4-6 inches tall. Never take more than one-third of the leaves at once if you also want the root to develop.
Fall Crop Tip: In many parts of Virginia, fall turnips can be mulched heavily with straw and harvested throughout the winter during mild periods.

Common Problems and Simple Solutions

Here’s how to tackle a few typical issues Virginia gardeners face.

Woody, Bitter Roots: Caused by hot weather or letting roots grow to large. Stick to the planting windows and harvest on time.
Poor Root Formation: Often due to overcrowding (forgot to thin) or soil that is too heavy and compacted. Amending soil with compost is key.
Bolting: If the plant sends up a flower stalk, it’s usually triggered by a spring cold snap followed by heat or by planting to late in spring. The root becomes inedible, but you can let it go to seed for saving.

FAQs: Planting Turnips in Virginia

Can you plant turnips in the summer in Virginia?
It’s not recommended. Summer heat stresses the plants, leading to poor root development, bitterness, and increased pest problems. Focus on spring and fall plantings.

What is the latest you can plant turnips for a fall harvest?
You should aim to get seeds in the ground about 6-8 weeks before your first hard frost. For most of Virginia, planting after early October is to late for roots to mature properly.

Can turnips survive a frost in Virginia?
Yes! Turnips are quite frost-tolerant, especially fall crops. A light frost actually makes the roots taste sweeter. They can survive temperatures down to about 20°F, especially with some mulch protection.

How long do turnips take to grow?
This depends on the variety. Fast-maturing types for greens can be ready in 30 days. Standard root varieties typically take 50 to 60 days from seed to harvest. Always check your seed packet for the “days to maturity” specific to that variety.

By following these timing guidelines and tips, you can enjoy a succesful turnip harvest in your Virginia garden. The key is respecting their preference for cool weather and planning your planting dates around our state’s distinct seasons. With a little planning, you’ll have a reliable source of this versatile vegetable.